Paul and Carol Bramson had served as missionaries to Senegal, Africa, for a number of years. Their daughter, Corrie Bramson, was quite a poet. Listen to what she wrote.
I sang the hymns on Sundays,
And I knew all the lines,
To, “All to Jesus I Surrender”
And, “His Hand is in Mine.”
But then the day arrived
When God put it to the test;
He said, “I want to use your life
To show My way is best.
“I don’t want folks to only
Hear words of trust and praise;
It’s not enough to quote the lines
On which you have been raised.
“I want your life to prove it;
I want the world to see
What I can do within a heart
That’s truly giv’n to Me.
“For I will show the great things
That I, the Lord, can do;
I will display My glory
And I’m asking to use you.
“But I don’t need your efforts,
Your energy or strength;
I’m not looking for a hero,
Or some super-human saint.
“I want to have your weakness,
I want to take your pain --
And use your inabilities
To glorify My name.
“And I want you to trust Me,
To daily seek My face;
I have not promised answers,
I have only promised grace.
“For the underlying issue
Is really not about
All the great things I’ll do through you,
Or the way you’ll help Me out.
“But it’s what I’m doing in you
That I want the world to see;
The way a life of nothingness
Is made beautiful in Me.
“So trust Me, precious child,
And someday you’ll understand,
That what seemed to you so senseless,
Was exactly what I planned!”
I know that Paul and Carol Bramson experienced some tough times on the field there in Senegal, Africa. I’m sure little Corrie as she was growing up saw the trials and the struggles and the challenges her parents faced. But isn’t it wonderful that Corrie was able to see that all the suffering was exactly as God planned?
Hey! And it’s true for you as well.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends